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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Are Dentists Doctors? - 2011 Edition

Today's decision by the General Dental Council (GDC) to postpone a vote on whether dentists should be able to continue using the ‘Dr' courtesy title so that an impact assessment can be carried out allows proper consideration of the issue, the BDA has said.

The decision to take the recommendation back so that the impact of the issue can be properly considered follows a warning from the BDA earlier this week that a change to the rules on this issue would create confusion, be perceived as a downgrading of dentistry and could disadvantage UK-trained dentists.

In a letter to the GDC, the BDA also warned that implementing a change would mean resources being wasted.

Dr Susie Sanderson, chair of the BDA's executive board, said: 'The GDC's decision to defer its vote on this issue affords time for common sense to prevail.

'We believe a change would cause needless confusion for patients and unnecessary expense for dentists. The GDC can also concentrate on sorting out its Fitness to Practise processes, which we believe should be its priority. We are urging the GDC to reject this proposal when the vote is taken.'

Flap remembers his first dental class at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry with Dr. Clifton O. Dummett, D.D.S. welcoming us to the profession of dentistry. “Welcome Doctors.” The good professor then went on to our inaugural lecture about some of the history of dentistry and why dentists are known as doctor.

For indeed, Flap’s degree earned after four years of post baccaleureate university work at the school of dentistry is a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS).